The Foreign Ministers of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are expected in Washington D.C. on Friday (today) for the signing of a long-anticipated peace agreement aimed at ending years of hostilities between both countries.
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is expected to witness the peace deal signing, following weeks of quiet negotiations brokered by the United States and the State of Qatar.
A statement from the US State Department confirmed that technical teams from both countries had initiated the proposed agreement on June 18, which includes the formation of a Joint Security Coordination Mechanism, among other key provisions.
The deal is expected to offer cautious optimism in a region plagued by recurring conflict, although implementation and compliance remain critical for any lasting solution.
Read also: Trump hints at peace talk between Rwanda and DR Congo
US President Donald Trump, in a June 20 social media post, said he was “very happy to report” that they had arranged a “wonderful treaty” between the DRC and Rwanda. He described the war in eastern Congo as one “known for violent bloodshed and death,” calling it “a conflict that had gone on for decades.”
The peace deal includes; respect for territorial integrity and prohibition of hostilities; disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration of non-state armed groups; return of refugees and internally displaced persons; humanitarian access; and a framework for regional economic integration.
